The Case of the Bashful Burro

It's always fun when Perry gets out of town and into the country. This time Della even gets to come along - although she doesn't get to do much besides grudgingly go on a distracting lunch date.

The plot and conclusion actually make sense, which doesn't always happen, so I appreciate that. And the young wife of Perry's client is Gidget's friend!

As an aside ... Has there EVER been a Perry Mason episode where someone on the stand doesn't do that thing where they accidentally call someone by their first name and then - embarrassed that they sounded too intimate - quickly correct themselves to say Mr. Or Mrs. So-and-so?

In this episode it went like this: "... those empty cartridges that Hazel - Mrs. Bascombe - found ..." Did people in 1960 really stress out so much about first names??

Unfortunately this episode is relatively hard to find because it is one of several not available on Amazon Prime/FreeVee (where I normally watch Perry) nor on Paramount+. I was able to record it off of MeTV on cable.

Jonathan Latimer, who wrote a string of classic mysteries, like THE GLASS KEY and THE BIG CLOCK, probably did a little research on donkeys. It makes sense, and yes, donkeys have been used in court trials, even put on trial for crimes. An amazing fact.

Also another change of scenery story, which we love, getting Perry out of LA and into a rural setting, in search of an old prospector called Amos (played by George Mitchell). The trick here is how Amos' donkey, Sheba, actually assists Perry in a murder investigation. Ray Stricklyn (known for DAYS OF OUR LIVES) and Sue George play a young couple who have inherited a worthless gold mild. But is it? Here it comes... a neighboring rancher named Bascombe (Hugh Sanders) wants to buy the mine because of the water rights. But is there something else? Bascombe, as you would suspect, winds up getting shot and Stricklyn (Gerald) accused of murder.

The most intriguing part is when Perry finally catches up to Amos and it's Sheba, of all things, who is instrumental in Perry's proving Gerald innocent of the crime. Unless you've seen this before, it makes you wonder how the heck a donkey could make a difference, and even Perry is accused of theatrics. Not so fast! An excellent little mystery.

For western buffs, Hugh Sanders appeared many times on BONANZA, likewise, old timer George Mitchell, also connected to tv chillers like TWILIGHT ZONE and DARK SHADOWS.

SEASON 3 EPISODE 19 remastered CBS dvd box set. Vol. 1 and 2.

Sheba the donkey ran away with it in this episode. Once the donkey come walking in things began to make sense. As a sidenote, the donkey was later fined $100 for contempt of court.

A young couple, Gerald and Sally Norton, own a piece of land that a local landowner, Ken Bascombe, wants to buy. The Nortons' do not want to sell because there is an old mine on the property that Gerald was told contained gold. However according to the local assayer, Crawford Wright, the mine contain little if any value.

After a nasty visit from Ken Bascombe, the Norton's were outside by a campfire when someone shoots up the fire. Plus like some situation out of 'Scooby-Doo'- we get this spooky voice say "GET OUT GET OUT". According to an old prospector named Amos Catledge, who has a burro named Sheba, told the Norton's that he saw Mr Bascombe riding away right after the shots were fired.

Perry is in town on business. He is looking for Amos Catledge on an old property dispute in another county. He meets the Norton's at a local bar where Mr Bascombe and Gerald get into an argument where Gerald threats Mr Bascombe.

The next evening more shots are fired at the Norton. Upset Gerald gets his rifle and goes out to investigate to see if he can find Mr Bascombe. Only this time he finds Mr Ken Bascombe dead, shot in the back. Of course, after the threats, Gerald Norton is charge with murder and Perry decides to help out the young couple.

There is no shortage of suspects in this episode. Ms.Bascombe is having an affair with the ranch foreman, Roy Dowson and both would not mind seeing Ken dead. Amos Catledge, the prospector, has some secrets that he may reveal and may cash in on the secrets if the right people will pay.

With some clever tactics, Perry, with the help of testimony from Sheba the burro, weaves his way through the mounds of testimony to find the true murderer. It may not be the most obvious person but a regular Mason fan can provide a good guess from the first few minutes of the show.

Maybe not the best show- but a good mystery.

With the assistance of a burro named Sheba, Perry Mason is able to nail the murderer in this episode of the series which moves Perry out of Los Angeles and into northern California and the mining country. Of course even without Hamilton Burger as his foe, Perry does just fine in the rural courtroom setting. Fortunately for the defendant Raymond Burr happened to be in the area on other business.

Ray Stricklyn and Sue George are a young married pair who are working an old and supposedly played out mine left by Stricklyn's uncle. Rancher Hugh Sanders wants the property bad for water rights connected to said property. Later when he's shot Stricklyn is looking good for it.

Because a certain witness is missing and in a kind of reverse disguise the defense bogs down. That is until Perry Mason calls the burro Sheba as a witness. In true animal fashion she identifies the missing witness and from there Burr brings home another acquittal.

The burro scene was amusing and that makes this episode worth a look. Without it though, it's one of the weaker Perry Mason shows.